US Sanctions UN Expert Albanese Over Gaza War Reports

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has levied sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a United Nations special rapporteur, for her outspoken criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and her documentation of human rights violations against Palestinians.

The move, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 9, 2025, has drawn global condemnation.

It has also sparked concerns over freedom of expression and the independence of international human rights bodies.

Rubio accused Albanese of orchestrating a “political and economic warfare campaign” against both the United States and Israel.

He also alleged that Albanese’s reports and public statements reflected a longstanding anti-Israel bias and promoted efforts to target Israeli leaders through international legal mechanisms.

As the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Albanese has emerged as a prominent figure in highlighting alleged war crimes committed by Israel.

This is particularly during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

Her work has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials and their allies, who have repeatedly called for her removal from her UN post.

In response to the U.S. sanctions, Albanese remained defiant.

When contacted by Al Jazeera, she declined to address the penalties directly, instead issuing a pointed remark: “No comment on mafia style intimidation techniques,” she said.

“Busy reminding member states of their obligations to stop and punish genocide. And those who profit from it.”

Earlier that day, Albanese criticized European governments for permitting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fly through their airspace.

According to her, this is despite an active arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC has charged Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with crimes against humanity and war crimes.

It alleged their involvement in depriving Gaza’s civilian population of essential supplies such as food, water, and medical care.

“European citizens deserve transparency.

“Each action that undermines international law puts us all at greater risk,” Albanese wrote on social media.

Rubio justified the sanctions by referencing Albanese’s calls for legal action against top Israeli officials at the ICC.

These measures follow an executive order issued by Trump in February that authorizes sanctions against ICC personnel deemed to be targeting the interests of the United States or its allies, particularly Israel.

Just weeks prior, the Trump administration had imposed sanctions on four ICC judges involved in related investigations.

In his statement, Rubio further accused Albanese of anti-Semitism, citing her past criticisms of Israeli policies and leadership.

“Her bias has been evident throughout her career,” he said, referencing her support for ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

Additionally, Rubio denounced Albanese’s recent report that detailed the involvement of international, particularly American, companies in Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The report characterized Israel’s campaign as genocidal and implicated several foreign firms in facilitating or profiting from the assault.

“These campaigns threaten our sovereignty and national interests.

“We will not stand for them,” Rubio said.

The sanctions, enacted under Trump’s executive order, include freezing Albanese’s U.S.-based assets and barring her and her immediate family from entering the United States.

The decision has sparked backlash from international human rights organizations.

Nancy Okail, president of the Center for International Policy (CIP), described the move as “devastating,” arguing that sanctioning a UN official mirrors the behavior of authoritarian regimes.

Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, expressed deep concern, emphasizing that UN special rapporteurs are independent actors.

“They are not tasked with appeasing governments, but with upholding international law,” she stated.

Callamard praised Albanese’s efforts to document what she termed “Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid, and genocide.”

She also called on governments worldwide to counteract the sanctions and defend the independence of UN experts.

In the nearly two-year span of Israel’s U.S.-backed military campaign in Gaza, the region has suffered immense devastation.

According to local health authorities, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, with much of the territory reduced to rubble.

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